18Feb15

Argentina government softens tone ahead of 'silent march'

Argentina's government toned down its stinging criticism of opponents on
Wednesday ahead of what is expected to be one of the largest street protests
of embattled President Cristina Fernandez's seven years in power.

Fernandez's final year in office is in turmoil after the murky death a month
ago of Alberto Nisman, a state investigator who was poised to detail evidence
behind his accusations that she plotted to cover-up his investigation into a
1994 bombing.

Top officials have accused the prosecutors behind the demonstration dubbed
the 'silent march' of trying to conduct a "judicial putsch" and conspiring with
right-wing political opponents to unseat Fernandez. On Wednesday they
calmed it down.

"I don't want to give it any value, nor downplay its importance," the
president's Chief of Staff Anibal Fernandez told reporters. "I'm not interested.
It's the expression of people who have the right to do so."

Tens of thousands of Argentines are expected to march in silence through the
capital, Buenos Aires, on Wednesday evening to honor Nisman, who was
found dead with a single bullet to the head on Jan. 18.

Prosecutors organizing the rally say it is not politically motivated. But the
independence of Argentina's judiciary has long been in question. Marchers will
likely call for an end to political interference and the intimidation of
prosecutors and judges.

Security forces patrolling within five blocks of the march's route will not be
allowed to carry weapons, Security Secretary Sergio Berni said on Tuesday,
citing the risk of "provocations".

Nisman had accused Iran of being behind the 1994 bombing of a Jewish
community center and alleged Fernandez colluded with the Tehran
government to whitewash his investigations in return for economic favors.

His death has sent shockwaves through Argentina ahead of October's
presidential vote. It is still unknown whether the father-of-two shot himself or
was murdered, spawning a blizzard of conspiracy theories and denting
Fernandez's credibility.

The political crisis has piled pressure on a government already battling a debt
default, stagnant economic growth and rampaging inflation.

Another state prosecutor, Gerardo Pollicita, on Friday said he would keep
investigating Fernandez and formally reiterated Nisman's accusations.

A majority of Argentines expect never to know the truth behind Nisman's
death, polls show.

"This is one of the most peculiar cases in Argentine history. The accuser is
dead and the accused is the most powerful person in the country," said
Argentine historian Federico Finchelstein.

[Source: By Richard Lough, Reuters, Bs As, 18Feb15]

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